Okay, I'll bite...
5.2L magnum from a pickup with a carb and manifold installed, hot hyd. roller cam, a set of headers, 904 or 999 trans, vintage sun tach, change brakes to big bolt pattern, change the axle to something better if it's a 7.25", 3.55-4.10 gears and loose convertor, 2.5" exhaust, and keep it stock looking (interior/seats, shifter, paint, chrome...
everything).
Dog dishes are cool, and I've run 'em on my junk, but if I had the money, I'd go with torque thrusts, cheater slicks, and some vintage-looking front rubber.
If you're starting w/ something that's already cosmetically halfway decent, just leave it 'as-is' and get all the mechanicals done... and worry about cosmetics later (if ever).
But that's just my armchair opinion.
It's your dime; once you're done trolling for ideas, build it however you like and tell anybody who tells you what YOU should do with YOUR car that he might pony up the bucks to make it HIS car - or shut up.
-Bill
